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Post by ancflyer on Aug 28, 2021 10:14:23 GMT -8
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Post by Name Omitted on Aug 28, 2021 18:07:27 GMT -8
The answer lies in the original white papers, but the current administration is too disingenuous to admit it. The ACF ships are designed to sail from Auke Bay to Haines and back on a 12-hour schedule. To do this, they were designed for nosing in at Haines to keep the stop short. One ship would do that run, and the other would work Haines to Skagway. She was overbuilt for the trip, but the idea was that she could have acted as a relief vessel for the le Conte and Aurora, which have been working as dayboats ever since the USCG reviewed below-water crew quarters after BC lost the Queen of the North. The issue is that the Army Corps of Engineers had trouble with the nose-in dock, and it's not a high priority for the DOT outside of AMHS, who is responsible for building it, so the revision to the plans for the nose-in dock was never completed. The Walker administration favored adding crew quarters for a cost of $27 Million for both ships (remember that number, it becomes important later). The idea for the ACF is that it was the opening of a class of ferries that could work throughout the system. In that regard, it's actually in the most recent transportation plan. For that, to work, the ACF should have crew quarters. For that reason, and because the plans were ready when the Walker Administration needed them, I suspect that they are an optional add-on from Elliot Design Group. The drafting and engineering had probably already been done. Enter the current administration and its breathtaking love of incomitance. They shelved the crew-quarters to push a brand new ferry terminal for seasonal use at the far north end of the Juneau road system. One that would not be available in the winter would not have a shelter to protect walk-on passengers and would require the maintenance of an additional facility for the AMHS. One that would cost $27 Million to build. It's not working out, so we are back to looking to put crew quarters onto the ships, but since they have been out of the yards for a while, it's no longer a simple add-on. It's now a retrofit, so now it's $30 million. The current administration does not want to admit that they are now back to a more expensive version of the Walker administration plan, so they pretend this is all new. The circus? It's all Dunleavy. |
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FNS
Voyager 
The Empire Builder train of yesteryear in HO scale
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Post by FNS on Aug 29, 2021 11:05:39 GMT -8
 Now exiting the Atlantic Ocean, the "Big Pond" that is, the RED ZED I, with the former CHENEGA and FAIRWEATHER on her deck, began to enter the Gibraltar Strait as of 1145PDT, Sunday 29 August 2021. A little over 400 miles or so remain in this voyage. My next and final voyage update will be her arrival at Abiza Spain. |
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FNS
Voyager
The Empire Builder train of yesteryear in HO scale
Posts: 4,954
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Post by FNS on Aug 31, 2021 0:06:43 GMT -8
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FNS
Voyager
The Empire Builder train of yesteryear in HO scale
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Post by FNS on Aug 31, 2021 2:20:07 GMT -8
THE RED ZED I AND THE FERRIES CHENEGA AND FAIRWEATHER HAVE ARRIVED! The RED ZED I got some attention from the beach goers in Sant Antoni, Spain.  A zoomed in side view of the ship about a couple of miles out. More later ...
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tak22
Chief Steward
Posts: 108
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Post by tak22 on Sept 1, 2021 6:45:23 GMT -8
Thanks to FNS for sparking my interest in Red Zed I and her stowaways! I didn't have the resources available to track the voyage but I did create this timelapse video of the Agua Clara lock transit in the Panama Canal on August 11th. patbaywebcam.com/redzed.php |
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FNS
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Posts: 4,954
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Post by FNS on Sept 4, 2021 0:19:21 GMT -8
TODAY, 04 SEP 2021, WAS OFFLOADING DAY. The RED ZED I is partially sunk (don't worry as she's designed to do that!) to allow the CHENEGA and FAIRWEATHER to float free from her deck. And, onto new waterways for them. We see the first one off.  The first one was turned around and was being pushed back by tugs alongside the dock.  The first one has been made fast to the dock. The tugs went out to fetch the second one we see in this capture. The RED ZED I's mission is complete!  The second one, might be the CHENEGA due to the size differences of the names between the two of them, enters the bay.  Turned around, the second one is being pushed back.  This will be a side-by-side mooring.  THE WORK IS DONE!The RED ZED I will empty out the water in her tanks and rise to her cruising level again, weigh anchor, and sail off to another assignment. We salute the crews of the RED ZED I for their bravery, patience, and professionalism in this epic delivery voyage from Alaska to Spain with a safe arrival at these ferries' new home. And, I thank the operator of this webcam for me to be able to watch the arrival and offloading operations. Oh, yes! I had to include that tiny bus for the "Blue Bus Fan"!!www.skylinewebcams.com/en/webcam/espana/islas-baleares/ibiza/sant-antoni-de-portmany.html
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Post by ancflyer on Sept 4, 2021 17:14:34 GMT -8
The answer lies in the original white papers, but the current administration is too disingenuous to admit it. The ACF ships are designed to sail from Auke Bay to Haines and back on a 12-hour schedule. To do this, they were designed for nosing in at Haines to keep the stop short. One ship would do that run, and the other would work Haines to Skagway. She was overbuilt for the trip, but the idea was that she could have acted as a relief vessel for the le Conte and Aurora, which have been working as dayboats ever since the USCG reviewed below-water crew quarters after BC lost the Queen of the North. The issue is that the Army Corps of Engineers had trouble with the nose-in dock, and it's not a high priority for the DOT outside of AMHS, who is responsible for building it, so the revision to the plans for the nose-in dock was never completed. The Walker administration favored adding crew quarters for a cost of $27 Million for both ships (remember that number, it becomes important later). The idea for the ACF is that it was the opening of a class of ferries that could work throughout the system. In that regard, it's actually in the most recent transportation plan. For that, to work, the ACF should have crew quarters. For that reason, and because the plans were ready when the Walker Administration needed them, I suspect that they are an optional add-on from Elliot Design Group. The drafting and engineering had probably already been done. Enter the current administration and its breathtaking love of incomitance. They shelved the crew-quarters to push a brand new ferry terminal for seasonal use at the far north end of the Juneau road system. One that would not be available in the winter would not have a shelter to protect walk-on passengers and would require the maintenance of an additional facility for the AMHS. One that would cost $27 Million to build. It's not working out, so we are back to looking to put crew quarters onto the ships, but since they have been out of the yards for a while, it's no longer a simple add-on. It's now a retrofit, so now it's $30 million. The current administration does not want to admit that they are now back to a more expensive version of the Walker administration plan, so they pretend this is all new. The circus? It's all Dunleavy. The circus started well before Dunleavy got the big chair in Juneau. The AMHS has been mismanaged for a very, very long time. Should have started planning for replacements for the original fleet 15 years ago. No forward thinking and mismanagement will be the slow demise of the AMHS. |
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Post by Name Omitted on Nov 6, 2021 8:49:09 GMT -8
The new infrastructure bill contains $200 Million/year for the next 5 years for operations of the AMHS, and a provision going forward that allows Federal Highway fund money going to the AMHS. In practical terms, it means at least one new ship, probably more. The carbon reduction language is laughable; new ships must simply be more efficient then the ships they replace, which means a replacement for the Tusty or Mal simply has to clear a bar set by a utilitarian ship built 50 years ago. Federal infrastructure bill proposes billions of dollars for Alaska highways, ferries, broadband and sanitation projects |
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Post by Mike C on Nov 6, 2021 15:43:04 GMT -8
The new infrastructure bill contains $200 Million/year for the next 5 years for operations of the AMHS, and a provision going forward that allows Federal Highway fund money going to the AMHS. In practical terms, it means at least one new ship, probably more. The carbon reduction language is laughable; new ships must simply be more efficient then the ships they replace, which means a replacement for the Tusty or Mal simply has to clear a bar set by a utilitarian ship built 50 years ago. Federal infrastructure bill proposes billions of dollars for Alaska highways, ferries, broadband and sanitation projects A lot of the coverage seems to suggest that various provisions will repeatedly need to come up for renewal. Do you sense that this is something that will be popular enough on both sides of the aisle to be renewed consistently every five years, or will AMHS continue to find itself short $200m at that time, holding hostage the residents of coastal AK? |
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Post by Name Omitted on Nov 6, 2021 20:51:39 GMT -8
The new infrastructure bill contains $200 Million/year for the next 5 years for operations of the AMHS, and a provision going forward that allows Federal Highway fund money going to the AMHS. In practical terms, it means at least one new ship, probably more. The carbon reduction language is laughable; new ships must simply be more efficient then the ships they replace, which means a replacement for the Tusty or Mal simply has to clear a bar set by a utilitarian ship built 50 years ago. Federal infrastructure bill proposes billions of dollars for Alaska highways, ferries, broadband and sanitation projects A lot of the coverage seems to suggest that various provisions will repeatedly need to come up for renewal. Do you sense that this is something that will be popular enough on both sides of the aisle to be renewed consistently every five years, or will AMHS continue to find itself short $200m at that time, holding hostage the residents of coastal AK? I don't anticipate this being a long-term funding source, but Alaska does have a tendency of getting weird things funded, and then keeping the funding. Who knows. If the State does not squander the opportunity, this could provide breathing room do the reorganization of the system that is so badly needed. We could, for instance, forward-fund the system so that summer schedules were published early enough that people planning a trip to Alaska could actually know what was sailing when. The long-term change that this DOES allow is it allows funding through standard highway department appropriations, which does open the door to the AMHS receiving operating funds from the Feds going forward. Of course, AMHS would be competing with the Rail Belt for those dollars, so it still matters who is in Juneau. |
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Post by ancflyer on Nov 30, 2021 3:57:57 GMT -8
AMHS is advertising for a "Vessel Construction Manager" . . . on Facebook no less. I'll assume they've advertised elsewhere also.
My thoughts on that: What does it matter what this person might do? Until things change in Juneau and the AMHS is sufficiently funded and maintains a steady vision, nothing will change.
My comments on their FB advertisement: "So you sell off two ferries that should never have sailed in Alaska, and you can't get the Tustamena replacement built, and you built two other ferries to operate at ports that couldn't accommodate them with no forethought to crew quarters . . . . and NOW you're hiring a vessel construction manager? AMHS needs an enema."
AMHS is a vital piece of the transportation puzzle in Alaska, particularly in Southeast. It's shameful - in my opinion - that it has been mismanaged and thoroughly maligned at every opportunity.
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Post by Name Omitted on Nov 30, 2021 8:10:14 GMT -8
AMHS is advertising for a "Vessel Construction Manager" . . . on Facebook no less. I'll assume they've advertised elsewhere also. My thoughts on that: What does it matter what this person might do? Until things change in Juneau and the AMHS is sufficiently funded and maintains a steady vision, nothing will change. The infrastructure bill provides for at least 2 new ships for AMHS. As I understand it, the Tusty replacement is a third that has already been funded, but could not get a waiver from the Buy American laws past the previous administration, so that's 3 ships. It would not be wholly surprising if we were actually cutting metal on her by the end of 2022. Of course, I've said similar before. Even with Juneau being Juneau, in grand Alaskan tradition there's always Federal dollars to use. |
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Post by paulvanb on Dec 2, 2021 8:43:46 GMT -8
AMHS is advertising for a "Vessel Construction Manager" . . . on Facebook no less. I'll assume they've advertised elsewhere also. My thoughts on that: What does it matter what this person might do? Until things change in Juneau and the AMHS is sufficiently funded and maintains a steady vision, nothing will change. My comments on their FB advertisement: "So you sell off two ferries that should never have sailed in Alaska, and you can't get the Tustamena replacement built, and you built two other ferries to operate at ports that couldn't accommodate them with no forethought to crew quarters . . . . and NOW you're hiring a vessel construction manager? AMHS needs an enema." AMHS is a vital piece of the transportation puzzle in Alaska, particularly in Southeast. It's shameful - in my opinion - that it has been mismanaged and thoroughly maligned at every opportunity. Don't be afraid to tell us what you really think.  |
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Post by Mike C on Dec 10, 2021 15:06:50 GMT -8
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Post by Dane on Mar 16, 2022 11:43:21 GMT -8
It looks like there's an Alaska State ferry (perhaps retired?) in downtown Vancouver, near Helijet.
I couldn't get close enough to see a name.
Anyone know why it is in Vancouver?
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Post by Blue Bus Fan on Mar 16, 2022 13:50:03 GMT -8
It looks like there's an Alaska State ferry (perhaps retired?) in downtown Vancouver, near Helijet. I couldn't get close enough to see a name. Anyone know why it is in Vancouver? I believe El Bartlett it’s been there for a year. |
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Post by Dane on Mar 16, 2022 14:14:51 GMT -8
It looks like there's an Alaska State ferry (perhaps retired?) in downtown Vancouver, near Helijet. I couldn't get close enough to see a name. Anyone know why it is in Vancouver? I believe El Bartlett it’s been there for a year. Thanks. Seems like it was a training vessel in Seattle? Retired in 2003. Actually looks pretty decent, at least from afar, for near 20 years retired. Also crazy how time flies, that was my first time around the waterfront since the before times! |
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FNS
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Post by FNS on Jul 18, 2022 21:23:15 GMT -8
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Neil
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Post by Neil on Jul 18, 2022 21:33:28 GMT -8
Thanks for sleuthing this out, FNS. Very rare that vessels will go to work for new owners while retaining the same names. Maybe the name Fairweather seemed appropos in any body of water, and maybe Chenega was obscure enough that no one would wonder about it. Great that these ships might actually find a second life more suitable than what they were first designed for. |
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FNS
Voyager
The Empire Builder train of yesteryear in HO scale
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Post by FNS on Jul 18, 2022 21:42:52 GMT -8
Thanks for sleuthing this out, FNS. Very rare that vessels will go to work for new owners while retaining the same names. Maybe the name Fairweather seemed appropos in any body of water, and maybe Chenega was obscure enough that no one would wonder about it. Great that these ships might actually find a second life more suitable than what they were first designed for. Check out the news story I've added into my original posting above this evening. |
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Post by SeahawkNERD8275 on Dec 19, 2022 14:11:51 GMT -8
Is a new boat being built?
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Post by elwharust on Dec 19, 2022 14:26:31 GMT -8
Is a new boat being built? not one that will replace the Kennicott, the MV Hubbard is just about complete, and the next vessel to be built I believe will be the TRV (tustumena replacement vessel), the Kennicott still has at least 15-20 years left in her. |
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Post by Kahloke on Dec 19, 2022 14:38:07 GMT -8
Is a new boat being built? I moved this post and the one below it into this thread, as this is a general Alaska Ferries question, not specifically related to Kennicott. |
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Post by 1foot2ships on Dec 30, 2022 13:08:06 GMT -8
I'm very weak on AMHS stuff, but I think one of their boats are in the inner harbour right now. Just thought I'de post this if anybody cares/ is around.
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